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As restaurant technology continues to improve, industry professionals are gaining new resources for enhancing their goods and services.

This year, there are a number of technology trends in the restaurant industry that you may want to adopt to positively impact the way you do business.

Let’s take a look at five emerging restaurant technology trends that can improve how you serve your customers in 2017.

Enhancing Curbside Pickup

Curbside pickup is expected to become a hot trend in 2017 as more customers look for a way to grab a bite to eat on the go. Restaurant technology that allows businesses to expedite the curbside pickup process can help you ensure that you’re prepared to handle the demand.

For example, a new POS system may be able to give you an edge on the competition with features that allow you to keep track of your inventory and update your menu on the fly to save time and prevent gaps in service.

Increasing Delivery Options

“Chinese food” and “pizza” aren’t the only words you should associate with delivery in 2017. Food delivery specialists popped up everywhere in 2016, with more companies offering delivery of customized meals to patrons at home and work.

Taking advantage of new online ordering platforms can help you manage your restaurant patrons’ requests as you deliver hot, fresh meals. With an online ordering solution, your customers can specify exactly what they want in their meals. The information is then transferred to your team, and the ordering process is streamlined for efficiency and accuracy.

In the end, this saves you time, which can translate into faster deliveries and better customer service.

Investing in Business-Quality Network Technology

Restaurant technology trends don’t always have to do with new gadgets or cooking devices. Think about your POS system or the wireless internet at your restaurant. Is it slowing you down? Could you be doing more and saving time with a more reliable network?

By investing in a better network, you can avoid frustrations, such as unexpected breaks in internet connectivity, which can result in profit loss. A business-quality network can ensure that everything from your reservation platform to your POS system is always up and running.

Think about how a strong network could also directly benefit your patrons. For instance, offering free Wi-Fi to your customers may increase foot traffic and impact revenue.

Creating a More Engaging Experience

Whether you have an app or just a website for your restaurant, you’ll want to keep engagement at the top of your mind in 2017.

As restaurants attempt to stand out from the crowd, it’s the positive experiences that will keep customers coming back for more. This may mean providing a more interactive website or app for ordering and takeout.

Think about the design of your app or website, and as you look to make improvements in the New Year, ask yourself these three key questions:

How easy is your website to navigate?

How could new restaurant technology improve your customer service?

How efficient is your online ordering platform?

Utilizing Data Analysis

Restaurant technologies that capture data, such as customer orders and preference, can help businesses better understand their target audience. In 2017, it is expected to help companies cater more to their customers and provide on-point goods and services.

In specific, sales information from a POS system and customer insights from guest manager software can help restaurants create loyalty programs personalized to a customer’s experiences and preferences.

In terms of marketing, there are already automation platforms designed for providing an in-depth view of customer preferences. However, newer POS systems are designed to provide quick overviews of sales – and exactly what is selling well – on a whim.

Final Thoughts

Trends come and go, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t stop and smell the roses, especially as a restaurant professional. In terms of technology, some “trendy” solutions may become long-term, go-to resources for your restaurant.